Rajie -- Inshouha（印象派）

I did buy that 2-CD BEST compilation for City Pop singer Rajie（ラジ）earlier this year. BEST compilations are fine for getting that overall picture of a singer's work, including any hit tunes. However, there is still something to be said about getting the original studio albums and even some of the singles at least. Of course, it all depends on the individual listener, but I've found that those studio albums and the B-sides of singles have also contained gems that simply didn't get onto a BEST collection.

Case in point: Rajie's "Inshouha"（Impressionist）, a track from her 1984 album "Gogo no Relief"（午後のレリーフ...Relief in the Afternoon）. It didn't get onto that BEST compilation but I'm not left looking askance at my ceiling while I wonder why. There were so many fine tracks from so many of her albums that got put onto those 2 CDs that probably some perfectly decent stuff had to be left behind.

Akira Ohtsu（大津あきら）provided the lyrics while Takashi Sato（佐藤隆）created the music, and it's Sato's oh-so-City Pop melody that got me hooked (gorgeous keyboard work) and has me thinking about investing in this 6th album of hers. That melody just courses around the metropolis like a smooth-running sports car in the mood for a good tour of the bright lights and big city. And yet, what makes it even more interesting is Rajie's vocals which reminds me of the delivery of Taeko Ohnuki（大貫妙子）in her early 80s technopop/European phase. Maybe "Inshouha" leaves the impression of taking a ride around Paris of the 22nd century.